Have you found where you belong?

Sea Change or Quantum Leap? At the wise age of "double nickel", I followed my passion for travel and photography and all-things Aussie. I sold my home, robbed my SEP account (to the chagrin of my financial advisor, but with his best wishes, too!) and headed downunder on a personal journey.

Two years on, after dee-tours in Tasmania and Victoria, I now live in Sydney near the spot my love affair began on Bondi Beach. My income may be minimal, but I've never been "richer" or happier.

Joseph Campbell, a mythologist - whatever that is - says, "There is no security in following the call to adventure, but to refuse the call means stagnation." I was stagnating in Corporate America...Thank god I listened to the wakeup calls!

I know what I'm doing is right for me, and those who really know me remain happy for me on my voyage of discovery. Finding and listening to my inner voice has had many rewards already, even if I do have to sometimes remind myself why I'm doing this. I'm working hard at web content writing and freelance magazine writing - but what I write about and photograph is travel, and the pamper and play stuff (golfing, spa resorts, exploring the outback of beyond, food & wine, and beaches, beaches and more beaches).

My mantra is "Go wherever you are meant to go and trust... whatever is meant to happen will find you." If you have a dream, prepare to make a change. Slow down until you hear your real voice and then start to follow it!

PS I may have left Denver behind, but not the music of John Denver. Whenever I'm homesick, a little "Rocky Mountain High" gets me through the blues.

On the road again

I count my blessings every day vis a vis the job I have created for myself downunder, which allows a good bit of travel across to New Zealand, around Australia, and especially to Victoria where my travel companion resides between trysts.

Serendipitiously, I'm off to Mauritius next month on a golf/spa/resort junket at the behest of the tourism department. Hard work, writing articles for luxury travel and golf magazines...I know of no one who can do it better! Better bone up on my creole and French champagnes.

Seriously, I have quite a few freelance credits, and I just happened to be in the right spot at the right time with the right golf/spa/resort magazine contacts to make the cut. I'll be travelling with other journalists and event planners and taking a look at that country's travel and hospitality industry. The images I've seen of the golf courses and spas are so tantilizing...maybe I won't come back!
I'll send you a postcard. More news as it happens...

Deetouring DownUnder

Dee's back from The Outback and living in the world's favorite holiday city, Sydney. It's not so nice when you live here, better when you're "just visiting."

Nevertheless, I'm still on holiday while my friends and family are slaving away in Corporate America. I am at the halfway mark on a four-year, long-stay resident visa - which means I have to start working hard so that I can qualify for permanent residency and eventually, citizenship. Dual passports is this journeywoman's dream!